Abstract:
A method for weld repairing an article formed of a low-alloy steel, such as a steam turbine component. The method generally includes the step of depositing a first weld repair (14) on a surface of the article, during which a hard heat-affected zone (HAZ) (18) having a fine grain size is formed in the article beneath the surface on which the weld repair (14) is deposited. The first weld repair (14) and at least a portion of the HAZ (18) adjacent the first weld repair (14) are then locally heat treated at a temperature above a critical temperature A.sub.1 of the alloy from which the article is formed. As a result of this localized heat treatment, the original grain structures of the first weld repair (14) and the HAZ (18) are entirely replaced with a fine-grain structure with acceptable hardness. Thereafter, at least one additional weld repair layer (16) is deposited on the first weld repair (14). The first weld repair (14) is intentionally formed to have a sufficient thickness to avoid formation of additional HAZ in the surface of the article as the additional weld repair layer (16) is deposited. Without a post-weld heat treatment of the additional weld repair layer (16) or the article as a whole, the method yields a repair weld (12) that exhibits properties that are comparable to and can even exceed that of the base material (10) of the article.
Abstract:
A process for joining a base for an airfoil to a disk for an integrally bladed rotor stage in a gas turbine engine includes providing a disk having a radially outer rim with a slot defined therein by a recessed surface, and further includes providing a base having a longitudinally extending root portion facing opposite a longitudinally extending support portion for supporting the airfoil. The root portion has a root surface and the support portion has an outer surface. The process further includes bringing the root surface of the root portion into contact with the recessed surface bounding the slot, applying pressure and relative movement between the base and the rim to achieve during welding, substantial contiguity between the root surface and the recessed surface over the area of the recessed surface, resulting in a substantially continuous linear friction weld between the base and the rim.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process for joining two metal members together. The process comprises the steps of providing two parent metal members to be joined and a prealloyed interlayer foil having a melting point depressant; creating a joint interface by positioning the foil between two spaced apart surfaces of the two parent metal members to be joined together; applying a load substantially transverse to the joint interface which does not cause deformation of the surfaces; and applying localized rapid heating in the area of the joint interface at a temperature sufficient to effect bonding of the two metallic members while causing little or no degradation of microstructural or mechanical properties of the parent metal and a coarsening of grain size in rim portions of the metal members.
Abstract:
A heating apparatus and method for welding a superalloy article. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus and method entail welding a superalloy article within an enclosure equipped with a thermal radiation-generating device that preheats the article to a temperature of at least 1500.degree. F. prior to welding. The invention more particularly provides a thermally-reflective coating on a reflector member positioned adjacent the thermal radiation-generating device for the purpose of reflecting thermal radiation emitted by the device into the enclosure. The device is then operated to heat the superalloy article to a suitable temperature, e.g., 1500.degree. F. or more, after which a welding operation is performed on the superalloy article.
Abstract:
A process is provided for laser welding a nickel or cobalt based superalloy article to minimize cracking by preheating the entire weld area to a ductile temperature, maintaining such temperature during welding and solidification of the weld, with the welding utilizing a powder alloy feed and the speed of the laser controlled to less than 10 inches per minute.
Abstract:
A lightweight high temperature multiproperty rotor disk and method of manufacture for use in a gas turbine engine. The rotor disk of a nickel super alloy and having a plurality of lightweight high temperature single crystal blade attachment lugs bonded thereto. The single crystal high temperature rotor blade attachment lugs being cast in a substantially rectangular shape and bonded to the circumference of the disk. A method of manufacturing the rotor includes positioning the plurality of single crystal attachment lugs on a positioning ring that has locating nests formed thereon. Subsequently, the rotor disk is placed within the bonding ring and a restraining ring is placed around the entire subassembly. Upon subjecting the assembly to high temperature the rotor disk, having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the restraining member, forces the components into a mating relationship. Upon completion of the bonding cycle, the restraining ring is removed from the assembly and the bonding ring is machined away.
Abstract:
The present invention consists in the apparatus for use in welding a first component and a second component together by friction welding, comprising drive means operative to generate reciprocatory movement, a component holder operative to hold said first component, linking means operative to transmit reciprocatory movement from the drive means to the component holder so that in operation said first component performs reciprocatory heat-generating movement, pressure means operative to exert pressure on the component holder so that in operation said first component also performs welding movement, the linking means being such as to accommodate that welding movement during friction welding, and the pressure means being such as to accommodate that heat-generating movement during friction welding. The pressure means preferably comprises ram means operative to apply force to a non-reciprocating head which is connected to the component holder through flexible connecting means enabling heat-generating movement of the holder to be accommodated. The connecting means may comprise one or more hinged links but preferably comprises one or more flexible elements. These flexible elements may comprise flexible rods or bars but preferably comprise flexible blades so orientated as to prevent movement of the component holder in a direction transverse to its heat-generating movement. Movement of the head in a direction parallel with the reciprocatory heat-generating movement of the component holder is preferably resisted by guide means which nevertheless permits the head with the component holder to perform welding movement. The guide means is preferably constituted by roller means preloaded to prevent backlash or rattling in use.
Abstract:
Friction welding tooling includes a cassette (2,4) for holding a component (6) which is to be welded with great accuracy to a clamped workpiece. The cassette is carried on the distal end of an oscillator arm (8) and urged against the workpiece surface so the cassette has to transmit the frictional heating and weld forming forces to the component. The component (6) must be clamped accurately and securely by the cassette for accurate welding. The cassette comprises a base portion (2) and a floating cap (4). The base portion carried by the oscillator arm (8) has locating features (15,16) to position the component (6) accurately. The floating cap (4) has similar locating features (13,16) but locates entirely on the component (6). The cap (4) is then securely clamped to the base portion (2) with a force transmitting wedge (22) inserted by opposing faces (24,25) in a load path.
Abstract:
A lightweight high temperature multiproperty rotor disk and method of manufacture for use in a gas turbine engine. The rotor disk of a nickel super alloy and having a plurality of lightweight high temperature single crystal blade attachment lugs bonded thereto. The single crystal high temperature rotor blade attachment lugs being cast in a substantially rectangular shape and bonded to the circumference of the disk. A method of manufacturing the rotor includes positioning the plurality of single crystal attachment lugs on a positioning ring that has locating nests formed thereon. Subsequently, the rotor disk is placed within the bonding ring and a restraining ring is placed around the entire subassembly. Upon subjecting the assembly to high temperature the rotor disk, having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the restraining member, forces the components into a mating relationship. Upon completion of the bonding cycle, the restraining ring is removed from the assembly and the bonding ring is machined away.
Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for separating components of a brazed vane assembly by preheating the assembly to a temperature below the solidus of the base metal of the vane assembly and above the liquidus of the braze, then maintaining such temperature while separating the airfoil from the platform by pulling/pushing the airfoil and platform apart.